Instagrammers of Pemberton: featuring @garypmartin

Having seen the way he tackles a training plan or a design job, I know that’s not true, but I still wanted to ask him if he’s like obsessive compulsive or something.

What do you like about Instagram?

I’ve been taking pics since I was a kid but never had anywhere to put or share them, Instagram fills this void. I’ve also made a lot of new friends from around the world as it really is a community full of people with a passion for photography.

What got you into it?

A colleague set me the challenge of taking a photo a day, I religiously stuck to this for about a year and although I now don’t post everyday I still try to share as often as I can. Since my first photo I’ve now posted over 1,100 images with no plans on stopping any time soon.

Where are some of the cool places your images have been regrammed/shared?

I’ve had a few images shared by small Canadian and Scandinavian based groups but the coolest one for sure has to be MEC who have featured a few in their MEC Nation group.

Do you feel a bit like a Pemberton ambassador?

A little, I guess. I’m very lucky to live in such a wonderful place and certainly enjoy sharing my perspective on it. I’ve had lots of comments from people saying how amazing Pemberton looks so I guess whether it’s intentional or not I kind of am an ambassador.

Would you say there are go-to locations, or obsessions in your Instagram?

I don’t travel that often so most of my shots are split between home in Pemberton and work in Whistler. Over the years though I’ve definitely found the landscapes that surround us have become my obsession. I also like to try and capture images that aren’t you’re typical scenic ones, I love clouds and moody lighting so I’m always on the lookout for something dramatic and different.

What are you shooting with?

When I first started posting on Instagram I was shooting with my iPad, not ideal but it was all I had with direct access to the app. I’ve since moved over to an iPhone 5 and really enjoy the limitations that come with shooting with it. There’s very little control with them so it really comes down to the composition and editing. I quite often look at a view and can already see how I can crop and adjust the image.

What do you like about the VSCO filter?

It’s such a simple app to use. Just like shooting with the iPhone there are limited things you can do with it but I feel I’ve found a combination of go-to edits that create quite a unique style for my images.

Would you use the same processing of photos elsewhere, or does it seem like it fits Pemberton?

I think the process fits the photographer rather than the location. I apply the same style to all my shots as it feels like my signature. I’m always looking at experimenting and exploring the potential of VSCO and I try to apply the edit that best suits the photo so each one is slightly different.